Manchester City’s title push took another hit on Wednesday as Brighton & Hove Albion left the Etihad with a fully earned 1-1 draw. Erling Haaland marked his 150th goal for City with a first-half penalty, only for Kaoru Mitoma to level on the hour and stretch City’s run of Premier League draws to three. For a team chasing Arsenal, this felt heavy: more dropped points, more questions, and more pressure.

As one report summed it up, “Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes suffered a blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.” Not even a milestone from their star striker could change the mood.

Haaland reaches 150, but the Premier League leaders pull away

Haaland’s big moment came from the spot on 41 minutes. The Norwegian now sits at 150 City goals in all competitions — a staggering rate. Yet the celebration faded fast. This was the second straight league game in which City dropped points at home, and the third draw in a row after 0-0 at Sunderland and 1-1 against Chelsea.

One reaction piece framed it plainly: this “felt like two points dropped rather than one gained in the context of the title race.” And that’s because the table is tilting the wrong way. City started the night five points behind Arsenal having played a game more, and the leaders had the chance to make it eight clear if they beat Liverpool the following day.

“22 shots and 2.38 xG, and it’s still 1-1 — that’s the title race right there.”

Mitoma’s clinical return sparks Brighton’s point

Brighton’s equaliser came from the edge of the box, a low strike from Mitoma that kissed the bottom corner — a “clinical low finish into the bottom corner that silenced the Etihad and sent the away end wild,” as a Brighton report put it. It was his first goal since September and only his second of the season, coming in his second start after a two-month injury layoff.

It did not come out of nowhere. Brighton had already put City’s makeshift back line under real stress. Pascal Gross saw a header saved, Ferdi Kadioglu went close, and Georginio Rutter had an effort blocked. The visitors’ approach was bold and smart, and they grew with confidence as time passed. “Brighton grew stronger as the game went on and fully merited the point,” their camp reflected. And head coach Fabian Hürzeler “takes points off Pep Guardiola again” — a growing sub-plot in its own right.

City’s wastefulness and a patched-up defence

The numbers say City did a lot right until it mattered most. Opta logged 22 shots, 6 on target, 4 “big chances,” an xG of 2.38, and three big chances missed. Guardiola’s verdict fit the data: “I liked a lot the way we played, a lot! Many new players and many good things but we don’t score goals. It’s too many clear chances and it’s not just one, two, three players, it’s all the people up front – we created a lot.”

At the other end, City were short-handed. With Josko Gvardiol and Rúben Dias among the absentees, Guardiola turned to 20-year-old Max Alleyne, recalled from his Watford loan only three days earlier, to help hold the line. Alleyne’s debut underlined the strain on resources and the trust City placed in youth on a big night. Brighton tested that unit early and often; City did not break, but they did bend.

“If Arsenal win tomorrow, eight points is a mountain for City.”

Title-race picture: momentum with Arsenal, pressure on City

Gary Neville called it the feel of a pivotal week: “It feels like a big week. Manchester City drawing at home to Brighton, it feels like another punch in the ribs. Arsenal will be going to bed tonight ahead of a big game tomorrow night against Liverpool very confident of where they are at right now.”

The broader mood was similar across media. One pundit branded it “another damaging night for City’s title defence as Brighton once again exposed their vulnerabilities and took a deserved point away from the Etihad.” The pattern is the problem: three straight draws (Chelsea, Sunderland, Brighton) at a time when City needed wins to keep up with Arsenal. This is the type of run that can decide a season.

“Brighton deserved that — brave, organised, efficient. No fear at the Etihad.”

Brighton’s plan and Hürzeler’s growing reputation

For Brighton, this was a result built on intent and resilience. They started well, hunted a weakened City back line, and when they fell behind, they stuck to their plan. Hürzeler’s side didn’t chase the game in panic; they pushed when the moments were right, and Mitoma delivered. “Fabian Hürzeler takes points off Pep Guardiola again as Brighton come from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester City at the Etihad,” their own match report declared.

Context matters. City’s recent form and injuries played a part, but Brighton still had to be brave and precise to make it count away to the champions. Their away end’s roar at 1-1 told the story: this was a point earned, not gifted.

What’s next: fixes for City, a platform for Brighton

City must turn dominance into goals. The data says the chances are there; the finishing is not. Recovering key defenders will also help, but the sharper fix is in the box. Guardiola knows it, the numbers show it, and the table demands it.

Brighton leave Manchester with belief. Mitoma’s return to scoring form is a timely boost, and Hürzeler’s tactical clarity travels well. For City, this was a night that underlined both their ceiling and their current flaws. For Brighton, it was proof they can go toe-to-toe with the very best — and come away with something to show for it.